2008-09 Boston Bruins Thread

[TheKilo]

Oh, and to put some perspective into the Wideman/Boyes debate:

 

Brad Boyes: 17 games, 8 goals 7 assists, -15

Dennis Wideman: 21 games, 5 goals 5 assists, +11

 

Brad Boyes: 35 GP, 16 G, 15 A, 31 points, -21

Dennis Wideman: 34 GP, 7 G, 14 A, 21 points, +20

 

lulz

[Johnny_RedSox]

Brad Boyes: 35 GP, 16 G, 15 A, 31 points, -21

Dennis Wideman: 34 GP, 7 G, 14 A, 21 points, +20

 

lulz

 

Boyes scored over 40 goals last season...and its hard to have a good +/- playing on a sub par team

 

Wideman having a monster year.....

[rician blast]

The +/- is certainly being impacted by the teams these players are on, so that diminishes, at least a bit, the gap...however, I do think Boyes stats are indicative of him not being a two-way player. In the current B's system that wouldn't fly, so I think Chiarelli was sound in moving Boyes.

[TheKilo]

Big game vs. the Pittsburgh Crosby/Malkins tonight.

[TheKilo]

Wideman has a goal and two assists tonight.

[TheKilo]

Lucic just beat the s*** out of someone.

[YanksHater213]

Anyone else still having a hard time grasping how good this team is and how good they could potentially be come playoff time?

[TheKilo]

 

They'll be awesome when they get Ference, Sturm, and Bergeron back. Maybe then we can Old Yeller Axellson and get Sobotka more playing time.

[Cityofchampions33]

Yeah, I mean while I did expect us to challenge the Habs for first in the Northeast and maybe be a division leader, in no way did I think we would be challenging for best in the entire league, leading in goals for, goals against, and 5-on-5 goals. And agreed, when we get all our injured back it will only make us stronger, the only other things I'm worried about is when the Pens get Gonchar and Whitney back, as well as the Devils when Brodeur is healthy. But other than that, I don't see any other potential challengers besides the Sharks and Red Wings, we are just so deep and talented in every aspect, if we come out of the tough january schedule we have it will only be cemented in my mind we are the team to beat.

[BoSox21]

Yeah' date=' I mean while I did expect us to challenge the Habs for first in the Northeast and maybe be a division leader, in no way did I think we would be challenging for best in the entire league, leading in goals for, goals against, and 5-on-5 goals. And agreed, when we get all our injured back it will only make us stronger, the only other things I'm worried about is when the Pens get Gonchar and Whitney back, as well as the Devils when Brodeur is healthy. But other than that, I don't see any other potential challengers besides the Sharks and Red Wings, we are just so deep and talented in every aspect, if we come out of the tough january schedule we have it will only be cemented in my mind we are the team to beat.[/quote']

 

Not that I'm down on the Bruins but in a season of peaks and valleys, they are clearly in a peak right now.

 

The Pens will be better with Gonchar, but they need a top 6 winger.

 

As far as the Devils go, Scott Clemmensen is giving them a 2.15 GAA with a .924 save %, Brodeur will not give them better than that so they are what they are.

 

Don't be foolish enough to say that the only teams you see stopping the Bruins are the Red Wings and Sharks. The Bruins remain small down the middle, lack depth on defense, grit up front outside of Lucic and Axelsson and leadership in their top forwards. They also lack experience between the pipes.

[TheKilo]

lol @ two month peaks

[rician blast]

I believe in the 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 seasons the Bruins had the best record in their conference (at a minimum they won their division) The announcer at the time (Dale Arnold?) said after a game late in the year "you're looking at the best team in the NHL folks."

 

They lost in the first round each of those seasons.

 

I love this team right now, they play great two way hockey, their goaltenders are playing well, they stick to the system, and their capitalizing on opponents mistakes...opportunism is the key to winning with the style they play. I'm not ready to crown them the best in the league...or even the best in their conference...yet. Lots of hockey to be played, and when the playoffs roll around, opponents play much different...harder, smarter...than in the regular season.

[Dojji]

lol @ two month peaks

 

Agreed. When are the Bruins going to come down from this "peak?" After the initial roster scuffle in the first 2-3 weeks it's been solid peak from beginning to end and Kessel, Krejcii, and Wheeler don't look like they're going anywhere anytime soon!

 

I don't think that even injuries are going to slow this train down at this point. Other than obvious disasters like injuries to Kessel, Savard or Krejci there really aren't a lot of ways to bring this team down. We've gotten virtually nothing from Bergeron and have spent more time without Sturm than with him, and have had to cope with injuries to Ferrence and Ward on the D and as a result, discovered Hunwick. And if one of MFTT and MFMF decide to get hurt, we've got Rask down with the Pruins.

[TheKilo]

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc223/pantscomeoff/d4a20ff68966cda39ae467b3d4a1dee0-1.gif

[Johnny_RedSox]

wonder if Bergeron will be out for much longer than a few games...

[TheKilo]

His headaches haven't stopped. Probably another month or six weeks.

[Cityofchampions33]

Not that I'm down on the Bruins but in a season of peaks and valleys, they are clearly in a peak right now.

 

The Pens will be better with Gonchar, but they need a top 6 winger.

 

As far as the Devils go, Scott Clemmensen is giving them a 2.15 GAA with a .924 save %, Brodeur will not give them better than that so they are what they are.

 

Don't be foolish enough to say that the only teams you see stopping the Bruins are the Red Wings and Sharks. The Bruins remain small down the middle, lack depth on defense, grit up front outside of Lucic and Axelsson and leadership in their top forwards. They also lack experience between the pipes.

 

Alright I don't even know where to begin with this post. Umm so yeah besides right out of the gate we haven't really hit any valleys my friend, so while we will slump at some point, I don't really know what you're trying to say.

While you say the Pens might need a top 6 forward, despite having 5 players in double digit goals oh and they have Sid and Malkin, they still have potted 118 which puts them 4th in the Eastern Conference, I have a feeling they'll be fine offensively. However, they haveee let up 110 golas, so my feeling is Gonchar and Whitney will help maybe just a litttleeeee bit, dont you?

Understood Clemm is holdin it down fine, but over this season where teams go through "peaks and valleys", so do players, and I have a slight hunch that Clemm's valleys might be slightly worse than Brodeur's.

Okay, then who from the East can challenge them? Aside from those mentioned and maybe the Habs, state your case.

One of the Bruin's strength is down the middle, and if you're referring to their size I'm not really sure that's a humungous issue. And yeah, that Hunwick character is sure playin badly fillin in for the injured, lack of depth indeed cough Lashoff too cough. As for no grit, I'm pretty suree that's what the 4th line is for don't you? How would you describe Yelle, Nokie, and Thornton's play? As for leadership, this team is perfect becauseof it's prefect mix of leading veterans and talented youth, and since when do you need leadership in only top forwards? You might want to see how far Yelle's gone into the playoffs in his career, not too shabby. That's just one example.

And while they may not have playoff experience, you're looking at the best tandem in the NHL so you really cant call it a weakness.

[rician blast]

His headaches haven't stopped. Probably another month or six weeks.

 

I've felt all along (in 2008) that he was fragile and that another pop could put him out for a substantial amount of time...and I think that is exactly what we've just seen. It kills me to see him potentially go the route of some other famously head injured...while the punk that hit him got a two game suspension last year. At any rate, I remain concerned about his viability this year.

[msubulldogs21]

10 straight.

 

62 points leads the NHL now.

[Johnny_RedSox]

His headaches haven't stopped. Probably another month or six weeks.

 

his career might come to an end.....I remember when i would see Lindros late in his career and i would get a sick feeling in my stomach when he had the puck because i new he was fragile...and then when Scott Stevens layed a knock out hit in the playoffs.....was tough to see

 

I wish him the best...

[TheKilo]

I don't think so - the hit he took would have given a concussion to any player in this league, his head went right on the shoulder of the Carolina player.

 

He'll be back for the stretch run.

[rician blast]

his career might come to an end.....I remember when i would see Lindros late in his career and i would get a sick feeling in my stomach when he had the puck because i new he was fragile...and then when Scott Stevens layed a knock out hit in the playoffs.....was tough to see

 

I wish him the best...

 

Exactly...and it was the Lindros brothers that came ot my mind, too. AFter a couple of concussions, Eric seemed to get dazed by almost every big hit.

 

As for Stevens, although by league rules those were legal hits, he concussed so many players in his day...and I saw many, many of those games...that I always believed he targeted the head with his shoulder. He hit Ron Frances one time as he was looking for the puck and he came from a distance and threw his shoulder/upper arm right into the guys head, leaving him crawling off the ice. Never liked fkn Stevens. He hit to injure, no doubt in my mind.

[Johnny_RedSox]

Exactly...and it was the Lindros brothers that came ot my mind, too. AFter a couple of concussions, Eric seemed to get dazed by almost every big hit.

 

As for Stevens, although by league rules those were legal hits, he concussed so many players in his day...and I saw many, many of those games...that I always believed he targeted the head with his shoulder. He hit Ron Frances one time as he was looking for the puck and he came from a distance and threw his shoulder/upper arm right into the guys head, leaving him crawling off the ice. Never liked fkn Stevens. He hit to injure, no doubt in my mind.

 

ahh yes Brett Lindros......seemed to get a concussion after every hit....

[BoSox21]

While you say the Pens might need a top 6 forward, despite having 5 players in double digit goals oh and they have Sid and Malkin, they still have potted 118 which puts them 4th in the Eastern Conference, I have a feeling they'll be fine offensively.

 

I said they need a top 6 winger and they know it, thats why they gave up so much to have Marian Hossa as a rental last year. They won't go that far with Petr Sykora as their top winger.

 

However' date=' they haveee let up 110 golas, so my feeling is Gonchar and Whitney will help maybe just a litttleeeee bit, dont you?[/quote']

 

They'll help but both are offensive-minded defencemen. The key to them allowing less goals is for Fleury to stop sucking.

 

Understood Clemm is holdin it down fine' date=' but over this season where teams go through "peaks and valleys", so do players, and I have a slight hunch that Clemm's valleys might be slightly worse than Brodeur's.[/quote']

 

Could be....who knows.....but he's playing damn good and the Devils always find a way to be in it even when Brodeur wasn't playing his best

 

Okay, then who from the East can challenge them? Aside from those mentioned and maybe the Habs, state your case.

 

There's no team in the east playing better than Boston so there really isn't a point in trying to convince you who will beat them but all I'm saying is teams like Philly, Montreal, New Jersey, Washington and Pittsburgh could take the east as well.

 

One of the Bruin's strength is down the middle, and if you're referring to their size I'm not really sure that's a humungous issue.

 

It becomes a bigger issue the further you get into the season.

[Cityofchampions33]

I said they need a top 6 winger and they know it, thats why they gave up so much to have Marian Hossa as a rental last year. They won't go that far with Petr Sykora as their top winger.

They'll help but both are offensive-minded defencemen. The key to them allowing less goals is for Fleury to stop sucking.

Could be....who knows.....but he's playing damn good and the Devils always find a way to be in it even when Brodeur wasn't playing his best

There's no team in the east playing better than Boston so there really isn't a point in trying to convince you who will beat them but all I'm saying is teams like Philly, Montreal, New Jersey, Washington and Pittsburgh could take the east as well.

It becomes a bigger issue the further you get into the season.

They gave up so much for Hossa to put them over the top in hopes of winning a Cup, but yes if you believe being an elite scoring team is the end all be all of winning then they do need a top 6 winger, I however, value goaltending, and defense, so yes you are right Fleury needs to step his s*** up.

I actually think the Caps are the team to watch as the dark horse of the East, I don't know why I didn't think of them earlier, as they've been on a tear espc with the ever dangerous Ovy.

And how will become a bigger issue further into the season?

[msubulldogs21]

Sweet, the game tonight is on Versus. One of the rare ones I'll get to watch.

[YanksHater213]

^^I don't get Versus at school...

 

f***.

[BoSox21]

And how will become a bigger issue further into the season?

 

Smaller bodies tend to break down significantly as the long, grueling hockey season wears on them. Having Saku Koivu as our top center for far too long, I see it first hand every year.

[Cityofchampions33]

Smaller bodies tend to break down significantly as the long' date=' grueling hockey season wears on them. Having Saku Koivu as our top center for far too long, I see it first hand every year.[/quote']

 

I completely forgot you were a Habs fan, but yeah I think every player's body has to deal with the wear and tear of a season, no matter the size.

[msubulldogs21]

Man, this is a fun game to watch. A lot of intensity on display tonight. B's just tied it up 1-1! It's on Versus.